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Windsor Port Authority reports a nice rebound in 2015

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

The Windsor Star/Brian Cross

A nearly 50 per cent increase in stone and construction aggregates — used largely to build the customs plaza for the planned Gordie Howe International Bridge — helped the Windsor Port Authority record a 3.8 per cent increase in traffic in 2015.

Total tonnage for the year reached 5.6 million tonnes, a figure well above the port’s five- and 10-year averages, the port authority said.

Although there were declines in several of its cargo categories, such as salt, petroleum, grain and general cargo, the big increases in stone and construction aggregates were remarkable, according to CEO David Cree.

The port authority suffered a slump in tonnage in 2014, after a record year in 2013. The results for 2015 were described as a nice rebound.

A recent news release noted that almost all the port authority’s net earnings are reinvested back into the community. In recent years it has helped make improvements in the Sandwich area, including development of the new HMCS Hunter naval reserve facility and improving fish habitat along the Detroit River shoreline.

“As our short- and long-term projections remain positive, this will allow the port authority to continue to make significant investments in Windsor’s future,” port authority chairman George Sandala said in the release.